Crookston Chosen as the Site for Soybean Crush Plant

Published January 14, 2019

The proposed Epitome Energy soybean processing plant will include a 30-million gallon biodiesel facility, a 21-million bushel soybean crush facility and a specialty oil refining business. Dennis Egan, who owns Epitome Energy, says northwest Minnesota is underserved in value-added opportunities for soybean farmers. “The University of Minnesota Extension concluded there would be at least of 20 percent closing of the basis gap for farmers by having value-added processing in the region.” With Minnesota’s 20 percent mandate, the state is now importing biodiesel. Egan says the Crookston plant will help serve that market. In addition, there are plans to develop a partnership with Canadian hog farmers for the soybean meal. At this point, Epitome Energy is in the process of raising $10 million in seed money to help fund “air permits, EAW and site development.” Equity partners could include farmers, large cooperatives or an outside investment pool. It will likely take ten-to-18 months to secure the air permit. If all goes well, construction would begin in 2021.